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Fort Polk is losing just 388 troops in the Army cutbacks announced Thursday. Here's what that means for the future:

1 Central Louisiana dodged a huge bullet

Fort Polk could have lost 6,500 military and civilian personnel, which would have been felt throughout Central Louisiana, but would have been devastating to Leesville and Vernon Parish.

By payroll, Fort Polk is the largest non-governmental employer in the state. An economic impact study theorized that a reduction of 6.500 personnel would result in losses of more than 9,000 jobs and annual losses of $468 million in income, $731 million in sales and $25 million in state and local taxes.

2 The region's ability to marshal support for Fort Polk paid off again

Many people had never heard of Fort Polk Progress before it took center stage as the point organization in protecting the base during cutbacks in 2013.

The nonprofit was again successful in rallying stakeholders to the cause. From Louisiana's Congressmen to local business leaders and elected officials to the citizens who wrote letters and showed up in force during an Army visit to Leesville, everyone did their part.

3 Fort Polk is still under the threat of a major reduction

This week's news was great, but the next potential cut is an even bigger danger.

If a budget deal is not reached at the federal level and across-the-board spending cuts known as "sequestration" are triggered, an additional 30,000 Army personnel will have to be eliminated. Stakeholders have felt for some time that cut is the real threat.

4 Regardless of troop levels at the base, Fort Polk is safe

In briefing Louisiana lawmakers, Army officials reiterated how important Fort Polk is to their future plans.

The base is home to the Joint Readiness Training Center, one of the premier training facilities in the country. As long as the Army has troops it needs to keep sharp and train in the latest doctrine, it needs the JRTC.

5 Fort Polk could grow in the future

The Army was not considering base closures in this round of cutbacks, but it almost certainly will in the future. Fewer soldiers need fewer facilities.

If bases are eliminated and brigades need a new home, they could find one at Fort Polk. Stakeholders say that, in addition to the brigade already stationed there, the base can support another brigade without costly new construction projects.